San Bernardino’s governing body will have a fresh look Wednesday, Dec. 19, when two new city leaders take office, a third assumes a new position and a fourth returns to his post.

After winning their Election Day races, mayor-elect John Valdivia, re-elected Councilman Fred Shorett and newly elected council members Theodore Sanchez and Sandra Ibarra have been chosen to guide post-bankruptcy San Bernardino through the myriad issues still facing the city today.

“We’ll be pushing really hard on being pro-growth, pro-development, pro-safety and pro-business,” Valdivia said following his victory over incumbent Mayor Carey Davis. “Those things are important for our community. … I think the new council is really going to bring a fresh perspective to City Hall.”

Formerly a two-term councilman representing the 3rd Ward, Valdivia enters office amid news he met with a suspected illegal pot shop operator last month at a shuttered marijuana dispensary on North Waterman Avenue, just before a robbery and shooting there.

The mayor-elect has said he met with Hanhsing “David” Li to discuss “business investment and other opportunities.”

Sanchez replaces retiring 1st Ward Councilwoman Virginia Marquez after receiving 56 percent of the vote on Election Day, but he’s being sued by challenger Gil Botello for defamation and libel. Sanchez has backed the statements made about Botello on a campaign mailer distributed before the election, saying this week that his legal team is preparing to take legal action of its own against Botello.

In the meantime, Sanchez said he’s “well aware of a lot of the hard work that needs to be done to fulfill my promises to the residents and really move the city forward.”

With plans to build a bridge between the city and the community, Ibarra earned 62 percent of the vote in her bid for the 2nd Ward seat and will replace outgoing Councilman Benito Barrios.

“(Second) Ward citizens deserve a councilperson who will be accountable, transparent and accessible to them,” Ibarra wrote on her campaign website.

And after fending off challenger Alex Beltran in one of San Bernardino County’s tightest races, Shorett will begin his third term as 4th Ward councilman. This week, Beltran, who fell short of the seat by fewer than 10 votes, did not pay the fee for a recount, according to the county Registrar of Voters.

“The city is making a change,” Shorett said last month. “The voters are interested in change, and I don’t particularly support that. I think we as a council and the team we’ve had together have worked hard to get us on the right track.”

According to a staff report prepared for Wednesday’s council meeting, a special election to fill Valdivia’s vacated 3rd Ward seat could be held May 7, with the winner serving the remainder of the term.

“I’m really, really honored to serve people in my hometown,” Valdivia said. “I’m grateful for a good, good showing of support. We’re excited. We’re moving forward, and I know the new council is really excited.”

Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Sturges Center for the Fine Arts, 780 N. E St., San Bernardino.

Brian Whitehead covers San Bernardino for The Sun. Bred in Grand Terrace, he graduated from Riverside Notre Dame High and Cal State Fullerton. For seven years, he covered high school and college sports for The Orange County Register. Before landing at The Sun, he was the city beat reporter for Buena Park, Fullerton and La Palma.